Astros report: Offense catches fire in homer-happy series

Count Jed Lowrie in the camp that believes hitting is contagious rather than a series of isolated one-on-one confrontations.

He certainly has some evidence on his side after a generally not-so-powerful Astros team came into Miller Park and hit 11 home runs in three games.

"I think you see guys going up there getting hits and having good at-bats, it builds a little confidence in you that they're seeing this guy well," Lowrie said. "I think it carries all the way up and down the lineup."

Lowrie was part of back-to-back home runs Sunday, preceding Matt Dominguez in the sixth inning as the Astros took a 5-0 lead. Fernando Martinez and Jordan Lyles also went deep as the Astros crammed two of their three four-homer games this season into one weekend.

Lowrie and Dominguez joined Brett Wallace and Jason Castro on Friday and Brian Bogusevic and Tyler Greene on Saturday as the Astros hit back-to-back home runs in all three games of the series.

More Information

Astros 7, Brewers 0

Tipping point: Four Astros home runs and the brilliant work of Jordan Lyles in his first career shutout made this a one-sided affair. Lyles joined Fernando Martinez, Jed Lowrie and Matt Dominguez in leaving the yard.

On the mound: Jordan Lyles had never thrown a complete game, much less a shutout. But he'll carry a really nice one into the offseason with four hits and one walk allowed. Three double plays and just three strikeouts kept his pitch count down, and he finished with 103 pitches.

At the plate: The Astros hit 11 homers in this three-game series at Miller Park, belting three or more in three straight games for the first time since 2003. They hit back-to-back home runs in all three games.

Under the radar: Such a dominant win will have you forgetting about all the strikeouts, but the Astros fanned 10 times in six innings against Mike Fiers. The rookie became the first NL player since Curt Schilling in 2001 (also against the Astros) to allow four homers but post double-digit K's.

Cubs update: After the Astros took the Brewers with them into postseason elimination, they now have a chance to carry the Cubs down with them to the land of 100 losses. It was 1966 when the North-siders last lost 100 as Leo Durocher's team went 59-103 despite an incredible year from Ron Santo and the presence of Ernie Banks, though an aging Mr. Cub. This team has few such names, with most having departed at the trade deadline amid a rebuild of the franchise.

Player to watch: Jason Berken. Astros fans likely aren't very familiar with the 28-year-old righthander, who spent parts of the previous 31/2 years in Baltimore. He's never pitched against Houston before and hasn't had much success in either league with a 5.39 career ERA. With Paul Maholm and Ryan Dempster traded and Jeff Samardzija shut down, somebody has to start.

Read More

Martinez shows light-tower power

Fernando Martinez hit the first of the Astros' four home runs on Sunday, and it was no different than any of his other four. Crushed.

All five of Martinez's home runs have gone at least 400 feet, according to ESPN Home Run Tracker's true distance and, in Sunday's case, the in-stadium estimate of 426 feet to center field. The five, topped by a 451-footer off Matt Cain at Minute Maid Park, have averaged 428 feet.

His power has always been part of the basis for his top-prospect stock even when it was held back by injuries, but he said this is something new.

"A couple times I was hitting home runs far, but not that far," Martinez said. "So I'm very happy. I feel very comfortable at home plate and see the ball very good right now."

Overall, he's hitting .232 with a .446 slugging percentage in 112 at-bats for the Astros.

DeFrancesco looks to 2013

A day after laying out what Dallas Keuchel had to do between now and the next spring training to earn a starting job, interim manager Tony DeFrancesco publicly stressed that message to everybody.

There are likely double-digit rotation candidates auditioning in front of what will be a revamped front office and coaching staff with few preconceived ideas.

"When you come to spring training and there's new eyes on you, you really have to try to impress, because everybody's in the same boat," DeFrancesco said. "They need to step up - we're looking for five quality starters."

In that vein, DeFrancesco, pitching coach Doug Brocail and bullpen coach Craig Bjornson had a roughly 20-minute debriefing with Keuchel on Sunday morning. They can't do that with all 35 players but felt it would be helpful for the rookie.

Among the topics: Keuchel's need to shut down the running game more effectively, get bigger and stronger, and keep home run balls to a minimum. He allowed 16 in 851⁄3 innings this year.

Translator

Get insights, lively discussion and, of course, debate from Houston Chronicle columnists and guests every Thursday as they take on the most current hot-button topics in sports. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast app, and give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps! Thanks!